How to Effectively Use Red Light Therapy for Migraines?

Red light therapy is known for promoting skin health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing muscle recovery, but can it help with migraines?

With over a billion people worldwide affected by migraines each year—especially young adults and women—these painful, recurring headaches are both prevalent and disruptive.

Thankfully, red light therapy offers a promising solution. In this guide, discover how to use red light therapy effectively to ease migraines and improve your quality of life.

Understanding Migraines

Migraines are more than just bad headaches; they’re intense, throbbing pains often felt on one side of your head. Unlike regular headaches that might come and go, migraines can last for hours or even days.

Many people also experience symptoms like nausea, sensitivity to light, and sound. Triggers for migraines can vary widely—stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, and even bright lights can set them off.

Scientists think that changes in the brain, especially with chemicals like serotonin, cause these painful episodes. 

How the Benefits of Red Light Therapy Combat Migraines 

Improve sleep quality

Good sleep can reduce migraines, and red light therapy (RLT) may support this. In one study, researchers gave elite Chinese female basketball players 30 minutes of red light exposure nightly for 14 days.

They found that RLT significantly improved the players’ sleep quality and boosted melatonin, a hormone essential for restful sleep. This non-invasive approach may help reduce migraine frequency by enhancing sleep quality.

Improve blood circulation

Improved blood circulation can be valuable for easing migraine symptoms, and red light therapy can help promote this. By widening blood vessels, it supports the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, which may help reduce migraine frequency and intensity.

A study in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology showed that 670 nm red light promotes vasodilation—widening of blood vessels—by releasing a stable, nitric oxide-related substance through extracellular vesicles. Researchers found that these vesicles carry S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), which help relax blood vessel walls and improve circulation.

Relieves Muscle Tension

Relieving muscle tension is crucial for easing migraines, and red light therapy effectively helps with this. Tension in the head, neck, and shoulders can trigger or worsen migraine pain.

Red light therapy reduces inflammation and soothes these tense muscles, which can lessen migraine symptoms. In a study involving identical twins (two people who are genetically the same), researchers applied LED therapy after strength training. They found that it decreased inflammation and muscle damage while improving recovery and performance.

Promotes Mitochondrial Function

Mitochondrial function plays a crucial role in managing migraines because it helps reduce inflammation and supports brain health. Red light therapy can boost this function, potentially easing migraine symptoms.

A study by Yuki Umino and Mitsuhiro Denda found that when skin cells were exposed to red light for two hours, there was a significant increase in cell growth and mitochondrial activity. This means red light can enhance energy production in cells, which might help in reducing migraine pain.

Therefore, using red light therapy could be a helpful option for those looking for relief from migraines.

Helps Balance Serotonin Levels

Balancing serotonin levels plays a crucial role in alleviating migraines, as serotonin is linked to pain regulation in the brain. Red light therapy (RLT) shows promise in this area by effectively modulating serotonin levels, which can lead to relief from headache pain.

A study by Miriam Tomaz de Magalhães et al. published in Experimental Biology and Medicine explored this connection. The researchers examined the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on patients with chronic headaches related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

They found that after treatment, serotonin levels significantly increased, contributing to a 64% reduction in pain. This study suggests that RLT may enhance serotonin production, providing a beneficial strategy for managing migraines.

How to Effectively Use Red Light Therapy for Migraines?

Choose the Right Device

When selecting a red light therapy device, you have options: handheld devices, panels, and masks. Handheld devices are portable and perfect for targeting specific areas, while panels can cover larger areas quickly.

Masks are designed for facial treatment. Choose based on your preference for ease of use and the area you want to treat. Handheld devices are often recommended for migraines since they allow for targeted treatment.

Target the right area

To treat migraines effectively, focus on the forehead and temples, as these are common pain points. It’s crucial to target these areas because they can help alleviate pain more directly.

By concentrating the therapy on regions where migraine symptoms occur, you enhance the treatment’s effectiveness, allowing for quicker relief and minimizing discomfort 

Use correct wavelength

The optimal wavelength for treating migraines with red light therapy ranges from 600 to 900 nanometers. This range penetrates the skin effectively, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

Using the correct wavelength ensures that the therapy reaches the right depth in your tissues, maximizing its potential benefits for migraine relief and overall wellness.

Prepare for the therapy

Before starting red light therapy, ensure your skin is clean and free from any creams or lotions. Find a comfortable and quiet place where you can relax during the session.

Take a moment to breathe deeply and ease into the experience. Proper preparation can enhance your results, making the therapy session more effective and enjoyable as you focus on relieving migraine pain.

Protect Your Eyes

Protecting your eyes during red light therapy is essential because direct exposure to bright light can cause discomfort or damage. Use protective eyewear specifically designed for this purpose to shield your eyes from excessive brightness.

This step ensures you can fully benefit from the therapy without worrying about eye strain, allowing you to relax and focus on alleviating your migraine symptoms.

Does green light therapy help with migraines?

Green light therapy is a new, non-drug way to ease migraines by using a specific shade of green light that can calm the brain and reduce migraine triggers. A 2024 study led by Tsung-Wei Hou looked at how green light therapy affects people with chronic migraines.

They found that using green light regularly helped reduce both the number and intensity of migraines. Plus, people in the study slept better and felt less anxious, with hardly any side effects.

This makes green light therapy a promising option for migraine relief. However, more large-scale studies are still needed to understand how well it works for different types of migraine sufferers and to identify which specific patients may benefit the most.

Conclusion 

To effectively alleviate migraine pain, integrating red light therapy into your treatment plan could be a valuable strategy. This therapy works by enhancing sleep quality, improving blood circulation, relieving muscle tension, and balancing serotonin levels—all of which are vital in reducing migraine frequency and intensity.

To maximize the benefits, ensure you select the right device, target the appropriate areas, and use the correct wavelengths during therapy sessions.

As you explore red light therapy, approach it mindfully and consider its potential alongside other treatments. By confidently incorporating this non-invasive therapy into your health regimen, you can take proactive steps toward better migraine management and improved overall well-being.